Kerry Blue Terrier

Origin and History

The Kerry Blue Terrier is a versatile terrier used as a hunting, herding and guard dog in County Kerry, Ireland. It is considered Ireland's national terrier and is known for its unique blue-grey coat.

Appearance and Coat

It has a medium-sized, muscular body with an upright stance. Interestingly, its soft, wavy, low-shedding coat is black at birth and turns blue-grey at around 2 years of age. It requires regular grooming and clipping.

Temperament and Personality

The Kerry Blue is brave, loyal and intelligent. It is a devoted, protective family dog that gets along well with children. It has typical terrier determination and can be dominant toward other dogs. It is energetic, playful and trainable, with a strong personality.

Care, Exercise and Training

Its soft curly coat needs regular brushing to prevent matting and clipping every 6-8 weeks; it sheds little. It requires a lot of exercise. It is intelligent and trainable, but because of its strong personality, consistent training and early socialization are important.

Health

It is generally robust. Eye problems, hip dysplasia and, rarely, hereditary cerebellar abiotrophy may occur. Regular check-ups are recommended. The Kerry Blue Terrier suits active owners looking for a brave, intelligent, low-shedding dog who can dedicate time to training and grooming.